2025-2026 Main Street Gallery Season

Artist Statement

I am a pen and ink artist drawn to the quiet focus that comes from putting pen to paper. My drawings are shaped by both living and non-living forms, especially the intricate patterns found throughout the natural world. Having lived in Southeast Alaska for most of my life, I’m continuously influenced by the region’s rugged beauty and by its forests, water, wildlife, and shifting light. I have explored pen and ink drawing off and on since my youth. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper excites me—it’s where simplicity meets expression. My work is intuitive and stylized, guided more by observation and feeling than by strict realism.  As each image emerges beneath my pen, I feel a growing sense of connection to the vastness of the world and the divine beauty within it. Inspiration is everywhere, and I believe there is beauty in all things. My goal is to capture that truth.

Framing Artwork

I get the pleasure of working with locally harvested red cedar, spruce and occasionally alder. I built these frames from Alaskan Red Cedar; it is a soft luxurious wood, and my favorite to work with. It always amazes me how you can get very light tan colors to beautiful pinks all the way to deep dark brown colors from Red Cedar depending on how old the tree is, what part of the tree the lumber comes from and different environmental conditions. For the frame corners, I used glued biscuit joinery which provides hidden structural reinforcement, so they are super strong without having any distracting hardware. The finish I used is a Satin Wipe-On Polyurethane and can easily be reapplied over the years as needed. This type of finish and application are more forgiving of dust particles as it dries very quickly. Plus, it is very satisfying to me to rub the finish on verses brushing it on. I purchase 1/8” thick glass for these pieces as it is less likely to break when handling it. Once completed, I acknowledge and thank everything involved in its creation—the materials, time, the environment, and the process itself. This moment of gratitude helps me be mindful and appreciate how many elements have come together to make each work possible.